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Nami\'s Dark Little Secret	By : senoritasophia Category: +M to R > One Piece Views: 15919 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Nami's Dark Little Secret
- 2-ch2
- 3-ch3
- 4-ch4
- 5-ch5
- 6-ch6
- 7-ch7
- 8-ch8
- 9-ch9
- 10-ch10
- 11-ch11
- 12-ch12
- 13-ch13
- 14-ch 14
- 15-ch15
- 16-ch16
- 17-ch17
- 18-ch18
- 19-ch19
- 18
- 19
Nami’s Dark Little Secret

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

Chapter 19: The Greatest Mystery of Them ALL

Luffy wanted to be alone for a while. He didn’t know why or understand why Wrath let
him just leave but he was glad for it. He couldn’t face her right now, well, either of the
girls that had come into his life and had come to mean something to him...Vivi...but most
of all Nami...

Nami...

What was Wrath really planning to do? And what would Nami’s role be? He had to do
something to stop whatever it was that Wrath was planning to do. If he hurt a single hair
on Nami’s head that bastard would pay! Luffy thought to himself. But in all reality he
was powerless to do anything about it. There was something about Wrath that made him
untouchable to Luffy. What was it though?

Luffy was walking down a semi-deserted passage way when he heard the sound of
approaching footsteps. Was he being pursued? Had his presence been missed? Luffy
pressed himself up against the cold stone wall and held his breath. Maybe he should try
and get to the others, and maybe together, they could all defeat Wrath and save Nami
from Wrath’s evil clutches. Luffy was almost positive Wrath had used some kind of
brainwashing technique on Nami to make her act the way she was.

That couldn’t be the real Nami right? Luffy’s mind was full of questions and somewhat
distracted so he didn’t notice one of Wrath’s minions until he was right in front of him.

‘Damn!’ Luffy thought giving a bashful grin to the dark-robed guard.

But to Luffy’s surprise the guard seemed more nervous than he was. “I’m glad I found
you...” He was saying suddenly. “The trap has been set for the vermin just as you
requested. It will only be a matter of time before the pests are eliminated.”

“Trap?” Luffy questioned aloud in confusion.

“The trap for the intruders...the Straw Hat Pirates.” The guard explained, beads of sweat
were forming on his brow.

Luffy’s eyes widened. A trap had been set for his nakama?! “Explain yourself, why has a
trap been set for my friends?!” Luffy ejaculated grabbing the guard’s shirt front and
pulling him up to him so that they were nose to nose.

“Uh...well...you see.” The guard stuttered as he trembled in fear. “It’s what you wanted
isn’t it?! You said you wanted them dead! My lord we were only following your orders
I’m afraid...we can’t stop it!”

Luffy’s eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of what he had just heard. And then he
realized the guard had just called him ‘My lord.’ “What did you just call me?” Luffy’s
voice was shaking.

“I don’t understand what you mean, My Lord.” The guard continued to tremble.

“I mean that ‘My Lord’. Why do you call me that?!” Luffy shook the guard.

“My Lord Wrath-” The guard was startled as Luffy suddenly let go of his shirt. The
guard took this opportunity to slump to the floor.

Luffy’s mind was spinning. Wrath...why had this guard just called him Wrath?! Why? He
couldn’t understand it and yet in the depths of his subconscious Luffy knew he knew
something...

“Argh!!!” Luffy grasped his head in pain. Something...was fighting within him.
Something that didn’t want him to know the truth. “What’s wrong with me? Damn it
you! I’m not Wrath so why the hell did you just call me that?!”

“Uh...but you are Captain Wrath, sir.” The guard said without a trace of doubt in his
voice.

“And what would make you say that?” Luffy demanded.

“It was you...who gave me the order personally sir, to set the trap and dispose of the
Straw Hat Pirates.” The guard explained.

“I gave? Impossible! I’ve never even seen you before...if this is your idea of some sort of
sick joke...dammit Wrath! This must be his doing. He’s trying to set me up to take the
blame for the destruction of the world!” Luffy grasped the front of the shirt of the guard
again and brought him roughly to his feet. “Where are my friends.”

ooo

The stairs seemed to go down forever into the earth. It was obvious these stairs hadn’t
been stepped on for years...a thin layer of slim covered each step making their decent
precarious.

Shanks was leading the group a torch upraised in his hand, followed by Ace. Tashigi was
next followed by Zoro. The others were coming down behind them. Tashigi’s glasses
were fogging over it was so damp and humid in this underground stairway. She keep
having to take her glasses off and wipe off the thin layer of fog that had formed on them.

It was during her third time that as she looked down to see where her next step was she
missed it...

“Ahh!” Tashigi squeaked as she fell forward. She closed her eyes preparing to find
herself flying into Ace and then Shanks causing them to all go flying down the stairwell.
But then she felt someone grasp her arm fiercely from behind. She was spun around and
found herself being pulled into the arms of someone warm...

When Tashigi collected herself she found herself staring back up at Zoro’s expressionless
face. “Zoro...”

“Don’t get the wrong idea...I was just looking out for the others.” Zoro explained as he
released her. He had wanted to hold on to her a bit longer but was unnerved that he felt
that way. He looked back at her face...that face that without her glasses so much
resembled her...his Kuina. Zoro shook his head. Kuina was dead. But he couldn’t help
but wonder...

A slight blush tinged Tashigi’s cheeks. “Of course” Tashigi agreed with a nod.

Melody looked at their exchange and her heart clenched. ‘So his heart already belongs to
another...my love did we once look the way they did? Did we once have hope for a future
together before...my sister came between us? I wonder what is to become of them?’

Finally they had made it to the bottom of the staircase and were now in a giant hallway.

“At the end of this hallway should be the entrance to the temple.” Raiden informed them.

“Right, let’s go then.” Shanks said with a nod. The Straw Hat pirates had just about made
it half way through the long hall way when suddenly the ground beneath their feet began
to tremble.

“What is it?” Chopper asked in a small voice.

“Is it an earthquake?” Tashigi breathed.

“Earthquake? Why now all of a sudden?” Zoro sounded frustrated at the prospect.

“It might not be what we think.” Ace murmured ominously. “I have a bad feeling about
this.”

“Stay sharp, let’s continue,” Shanks ordered taking a step forward when suddenly a large
chunk of the ceiling came crashing down.

“Look out!” Tashigi cried as she unsheathed her sword and prepared to cut the rock in
two.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!” Came Zoro’s frantic voice as he pushed past Tashigi and
stood underneath the falling chunk of ceiling. Unsheathing his three swords
simultaneously he cried, “Demon Slash!” Steel met with rock and shards of rock were
sent flying into the air.

Tashigi sighed in relief as she sheathed her sword. Although she was a little miffed that
Zoro had stepped in and stopped her from using her own skills with the sword, she
couldn’t help but wonder why he had done that...

“We’re not home free yet.” Zoro said looking up at the ceiling. “Run.”

“What?” Tashigi asked in disbelief.

“Run! The whole ceiling is caving in!” Zoro said as he grabbed Tashigi’s hand and began
to pull her forward along with him.

Melody’s eyes trailing behind them...

The Straw Hat pirates all began to run as the ceiling began to collapse around them. They
only had seconds to get to the end of the hallway and to the entrance to the Temple of
Mother Nature before they would be killed, buried beneath a pile of rubble to never see
the light of day again.

“It’s some sort of trap.” Ace said as he ran. “Just look the ceiling isn’t caving in, in a
natural way. It’s coming down in large cubes. We’re supposed to be killed here.”

“Damn it!” Ussop cried. “I’m too young and beautiful to die.”

Suddenly the part of the ceiling in front of them began to come down in cubes too fast for
them to run past in time. The cubes gathered until there was a wall in front of them.

“Dang, we can’t get through.” Zoro said looking at the wall.

“Are we going to die?” Tashigi questioned softly. She looked back at Zoro and their eyes
met. Through that look many unspoken agreements were made...they had a lot of talking
to do if they made it through this alive.

ooo

“Kuuusssoooo!!!” Luffy cried as he sprinted down the hallway. He just had to get to his
friends in time before...Luffy shook his head. No! He would not allow his friends to die.
Especially if he was in fact responsible for...but that would be insane! Luffy wasn’t
crazy...was he?! Luffy shook his head and continued to run.

He could feel the ground trembling beneath his feet. Had it already started?! He turned
and found himself in the main hallway that lead to the entrance of the Temple of Mother
Nature. This was the hall they would have to use to get there, it was the only way. Luffy
picked up his pace and made his way down the hall until he met with a dead end.

“What the?” Luffy said as he looked at the wall before him in a stupor. “This wall isn’t
supposed to be here...”

“AHHHHHHHHH.” Suddenly the sound of screams could be heard.

Luffy’s eyes widened as he recognized those voices - his nakama were in trouble! And
they were just on the other side of this wall. They must have been trapped on the other
side on purpose. Somehow he had to get through to them.

“Gomu Gomu no Gatling gun!!!” Luffy cried as he unleashed a series of punches at the
stone wall in front of him. As his punches hit the thick stone wall little damage was
made, only small round indents. “Kussooo! I need to get through to them no matter what!
Gomu Gomu no Gatling Gun!” Luffy unleashed his series of punches again and again.
Soon the stone wall was clipping away bit by bit...as his fists were becoming bloodied by
the effort to break through the grossly thick stone barricade.

Zoro has his arms wrapped around Tashigi as he tried to shield her body from the pieces
of stone that were falling around them.

The others were running around in a panic trying to avoid the randomly falling pieces.

“You know...up until ten years ago I’ve had amnesia...” Tashigi suddenly found herself
confiding to Zoro. “I can’t remember my own childhood...my friends...who my family
was...and for some reason I feel like I’ve been missing something very important...but
when you’re near me it feels like I’ve gotten that part of myself back.”

Zoro’s eyes widened as he listened to what she was saying. Could there be even the
remotest possibility that the woman he now held in his arms was in fact Kuina? The very
same Kuina whom he had made his childhood promise on her grave that he would
become the strongest swordsman in the world, carrying on her own dream through him.
The very same Kuina whom he had had his first crush on. The very same Kuina who was
his first love...

Suddenly Zoro heard it. That sound...that familiar sound. Could it be!?

“Luffy!” Zoro suddenly cried as he released Tashigi and spun around to face the stone
wall. He placed a hand upon it and there he felt it - vibrations. Someone was trying to get
through the wall and he knew of only one person who was reckless enough to try
something so stupid. “Luffy you bastard!” Zoro said fondly. “Tashigi stand back.”

“What are you going to do?” Tashigi asked in surprise.

“We’re going to get out the hell out of here that’s what.” Zoro smirked at her causing
Tashigi to fidget nervously. Zoro turned his attention back to the wall. “Here goes
nothing! Demon Slash!” Zoro’s three swords were out of their sheaths and flashing in the
torchlight. As one of the swords gleamed Tashigi found she couldn’t take her eyes off of
it...that sword that marvelous magnificent sword....

ooo

Luffy fists as they connected with the stone wall could feel that on the other side
something was also trying to make a dent in the wall. He smirked. He knew his nakama
would catch on quick, after all they were always a lot quicker than he had ever been.

ooo

“Come on everyone we have to help him!” Shanks ordered. Shanks removed his own
sword and began to hack away at the stone wall. Ace summoned his Fire Fire fruit
powers and began hurling fireballs towards the places where Zoro’s and Shanks’ swords
were aiming.

Soon the Straw Hat pirates were all joining in making the stone wall before them their
common enemy that needed to be defeated. Summoning their own unique powers, using
those powers together, as one, they fought together drawing upon each other’s strength.

Just as the wall in front of them began to give way the ceiling above them had begun to
come down. They only had a matter of seconds before they lost their chance at survival.
As Zoro, Luffy, and the others each sent their own attacks at the wall finally a small
opening was made.

“Go! Go! Go!” Zoro cried as he waved everyone past him.

Everyone was quickly running past through the small opening until it was down to Zoro,
Tashigi and Melody.

“Ladies first,” Zoro smirked.

Melody was just about to go through the opening when she looked behind her to see that
Tashigi wasn’t moving. “What is it?” Melody questioned.

“My foot it’s stuck.” Tashigi explained as she began to yank at her leg, her foot had
gotten lodged between two fallen chunks of ceiling.

“Melody go on ahead, I’ll stay behind and help Tashigi.” Zoro told Melody.

“But-“ Melody was cut off.

“Go!” Zoro ordered as he unsheathed Kuina’s sword and ran towards Tashigi. The
ceiling was already beginning to fall down right where they were.

Melody bit her lip and knew what she had to do.

“Demon Slash!” Zoro cried as his attack hit the stones around Tashigi’s foot and blasted
them to bits. Zoro quickly grabbed Tashigi’s hand and was about to pull her along. “Let’s
get out of here.” When he looked up. It was too late...the entire ceiling was coming down
upon them and there was no way even with Zoro’s current skills that he could save them
from the inevitable

“Song Song Wave!!!” Came the unexpected voice of Melody. She had her flute to her
lips now and suddenly Zoro and Tashigi felt a rush of air when suddenly they were hit
full force with a gale and sent flying through the small opening and to the other side.

Tashigi found herself on top of Zoro and blushed before quickly getting to her feet.

Her eyes then widened in shock, “Melody!!!” She cried as she looked back to the small
opening, but all she saw were the pieces of rock coming down until the hole was blocked
off once more. Tashigi turned her head and upon seeing Zoro flew into his arms and
buried her face in his chest as tears streamed down her face.

Melody had sacrificed her life to save them...

“Why? Why would she do that?” Tashigi looked up at Zoro, tears glittering in her eyes.

Zoro looked down at her, his eyes filled with emotion, “I think it’s because she wanted us
to be together...” And without saying another word he lowered his face to her until their
lips touched in a soft kiss.

As they kissed they could have sworn they heard the song of a flute playing, it was a sad
song but it was also beautiful and filled with hope.

ooo

Nami casually made her way into an inner chamber where she approached none other
than the wardrobe. It had been moved from the Going Merry and brought here. Nami
opened the two blackwood doors to reveal the mirror. There staring back at her was her
reflection...

The Nami inside the mirror looked haggard and worn, her eyes were red and puffy. When
she saw that her other self had returned though a spark of defiance filled her eyes. She
then began to bang her hands against the invisible barrier that separated the Nami in the
mirror world from the one that was now outside it.

“Let me out of here!” Nami demanded. “You tricked me! I...I just wanted to be free and
you...you’ve trapped me here! What do you plan to do anyways?”

A smile formed on the red-painted lips of Nami. “What I intend to do...is take over the
world with Captain Wrath at my side.”

Nami’s eyes widened in shock. “Take over the world? Wrath?! What about Luffy?”

“Ah, yes, Luffy, there’s no need to worry about him.” Nami said knowingly.

Nami stared back at herself in disbelief. She could not believe what was happening. Even
now she didn’t fully understand it but...apparently a part of the mirror had been
alive...barely but nevertheless alive. All it needed to become fully alive was a willing
soul or at least part of one to give itself up unto the evil spirit of the mirror and become
one with it.

Now the being before Nami was a part of herself, the darkest part, and the evil spirit of
the mirror united as one.

“Why are you here?” Nami questioned back taking in the odd clothing her other self had
chosen to wear. Nami would never have worn something so provocative, so
revealing...would she? Is that what her inner self desired? To be some sort of
exhibitionist slut?

The red-painted lips’ smile turned deadly. “I’m here to tie up lose ends. I’m afraid my
dear you have to go.” Suddenly Nami removed a dagger from her cleavage and held it up
in her right hand preparing to bring it down upon the glass of the mirror and shatter it.

“No...” Nami murmured as she realized what was happening. “No...No!!!” Luffy...

ooo

A chill went down Luffy’s spine. “You ok Luffy?” Shanks said patting Luffy on the back
perhaps a little harder than would have been necessary.

“Uh...yea it’s just I thought I heard someone call my name. Strange.” Luffy scratched the
back of his neck.

“You’re just imagining things.” Shanks smirked at him.

“Just look at your hands, dimwit.” Zoro smirked at Luffy. “You’ve gone and overdid it
again.”

Luffy looked down bashfully at his bloodied hands. “Yea well...I couldn’t just let you
guys die. You are my nakama.” Luffy raised his head and smiled back at everyone.

“Damn straight!” Ussop cried. “I never doubted for a single moment that we wouldn’t
come through that! That the miracle of friendship would prevail over overwhelming
odds, odds so great and terrible that only the Great Captain Ussop could have stood
before such danger and not so much as tremble in fear!”

“Riiiight.” Zoro smiled. “And what was with all that running and screaming seconds
before ‘Zoro save me! Save me!’.”

Ussop turned bright red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Luffy looked back at Shanks and the lacerations on his chest and back. Another chill
went down Luffy’s spine as he thought about how Shanks had gotten those wounds. He
had probably been tortured by Wrath...the whip had probably come down hard.

A cracking sound filling the air...the cat-o-nine flying through the air looking like black
snakes until as it hit across Shanks’ pale skin, a trail of red was left in its wake...

“Luffy...Luffy!!” Zoro’s voice broke Luffy out of his daze.

“Huh? What...” Luffy shook his head. Just what were those images only seconds ago that
had filled his mind? They had been so real so...filled with familiarity. What could that
mean? The images...suddenly took up all of Luffy’s mind. They were becoming clearer
now...the cracking sound, the feel of the leather in the palms of his hands, the smell of
fresh blood...

“Ahhhhh!!!” Luffy screamed. And tried to will the visions to leave his mind. What the
hell is wrong with me...what’s happening to me? Luffy looked back at the shocked
expressions on his friends’ faces. He couldn’t face them right now. He couldn’t stay
here...he could put them in danger. Somehow Luffy knew this. “I’m sorry, minna.” Luffy
said before breaking off into a run and leaving his nakama behind.

ooo

Nami smiled as she made her way back into the main chamber where the black obelisk
stood in the center looking like some sort of black diamond. She could feel the blood in
her veins tingling with untapped power. She had definitely chosen the right victim to use
as a host. Now she would hold the secret power of Atlantis in her hands and become the
most powerful woman in the world!

Suddenly Luffy entered the chamber and before him he saw her - Nami. At first he felt
relieved, he had felt somehow that she might have been in danger. But that feeling was
quickly replaced with a dark jealousy as he watched Wrath walk up to her and wrap his
arm around her bringing her close.

“The time is upon us, my dear,” Wrath turned his masked face down to look upon the
woman in his arms. “Are you ready to make our dreams come true.”

“Yes, my love.” Nami replied. “Together we shall gain the power of ages and rule the
world.”

“Now, my pet,” Wrath was saying as he led Nami towards the black obelisk. “Offer
yourself up onto the power of Atlantis and become one with it, its medium. You shall be
mine afterwards to control...to command.”

“As you wish.” Nami said as she was drawn by an unseen force towards the obelisk.
There was a hum...a calling drawing her forth. The obelisk seemed to be vibrating with a
song only she could hear. Nami walked forward closer to the obelisk until she placed a
hand on its silky black surface and then her hand passed through it. She then slowly
began to step inside the obelisk...

Luffy watched in horror as Nami disappeared inside the black, crystalline obelisk. He had
a bad feeling about all this but once again he felt powerless to do anything about it.
“Nami! Nami no!!” Luffy cried. But it was as if his cry fell on deaf ears.

Wrath was laughing now...a haunting laugh that was echoing throughout the chamber.

The black crystal began to glow with a shimmering blue aura. Suddenly the ground
began to tremble as well as the entire temple.

“Soon! Soon this temple will rise! And then the power...the power will be revealed!!!!”
Wrath was saying.

“The power...the power...the power...” Came a soft shaky voice.

Luffy turned to see that it was Vivi. She was huddled in a corner of the chamber her arms
wrapped around herself as she rocked back and force. Luffy was at her side in an instant.
“Vivi...vivi speak to me.”

“The power it mustn’t be allowed to be awoken...the end is near...everyone will
die...I...Ahhhhh!!! I can see it! I can feel it! Everyone’s pain and suffering!” Vivi cried as
she shook her head from side to side, both of her hands on either side of her head.

“Vivi what’s wrong with you?!” Luffy demanded thoroughly shaken at seeing Vivi this
way. Usually she was the cool, calm, and collected model of a true princess but now...

“I’ve kept a secret from everyone...” Vivi was saying. “Ever since I was little I’ve had the
curse. The curse to see things I shouldn’t be seeing. Things...that haven’t happened yet.
In my country it’s a curse punishable by death and so until now I haven’t told anyone
about it but I can no longer ignore its messages to me. It told me too, that I would never
gain your love. It showed me that the woman whom you are destined for is Nami...but
even so I wanted to come between that love...

“I’m so sorry Luffy. How can you ever forgive me? I knew of the strong bond the two of
you shared and yet I tried to come between you and now...the future has changed and it
could be because of what I’ve done. I’ve separated the two of you and now...the
future...the future is dark. You must save her...in order to save everyone...Luffy it’s our
only hope.”

“Save her...Nami needs saving?” Luffy questioned. “How can I save her Vivi? Tell me
how?!”

Vivi looked back up at Luffy, “Do you love her?”

Luffy was taken aback by the question. “Uh...what do you mean?”

“Do you love Nami Luffy?” Vivi persisted.

“Well I...I’m still not very sure what love really even is...but I...when I see her I get this
funny feeling in the pit of my belly, it’s a happy feeling. And when she smiles, I feel like
I could take on the entire world! Her smile...is brighter than the sun to me and I would do
anything to protect that smile.

“But when Nami is sad I feel like I could just die. I feel sad when she’s sad and I don’t
really understand why. I just want to see Nami happy, always. When she’s sad it’s like a
cold, rainy day. I wish her smile would just come back and make the clouds go away
with its shine. And then there’s how she smells...like sun kissed oranges, covered in dew
drops. She smells...delicious. Kinda like meat but better.

“When I don’t see her around...I miss her. I want to be with her. Sometimes I think what
it would be like if Nami decided to leave...and water starts coming out of my eyes. I feel
lost. Nami...she’s like my guiding star. I don’t know what I would do without her at my
side. I would do anything to keep her with me, to keep her happy. I would die for her if I
had to. Is that love Vivi?”

Vivi smiled. “Yes, Luffy, that is love. Now...tell her you love her Luffy before it’s too
late.” A single tear trickled down Vivi’s cheek as she turned her head away from Luffy.

“Vivi...I...” Luffy was saying.

“Just go Luffy! Go!!” Vivi screamed.

Luffy took one last look at his friend before running off towards the black obelisk and
Wrath.

ooo

Something was wrong...terribly wrong...

Nami sunk to her knees. It felt like the energy was being sucked out of her from
somewhere. She looked back at the invisible barrier which separated her from reality and
sighed. She was grateful she had escaped with her life...that had been a close one. Her
other self was about to finish her off and destroy the mirror when suddenly she had
turned and left.

A close call indeed. But now...she felt like she was dying anyways. What the hell was
happening? She could feel her energy leaving her...her body becoming weaker and
weaker. Was this the result of her other half awakening the power of Atlantis? If that was
so then that meant she could feel what her other self was feeling...and if that were so that
meant that one affected the other...

And if that was true then maybe just maybe she had a chance. Nami looked around her in
the barren space. It mimicked the room just outside the invisible barrier looking exactly
the same as the chamber...every detail was the same...even the dagger on the floor. A
dagger? Where had that come from. Her other self must have dropped it during her rush
to leave.

Nami ran over and picked it up. She then took a deep breath and plunged the dagger into
her arm.

ooo

Meanwhile...

The Nami inside of the obelisk let out a piercing scream. That bitch...what the hell does
she think she’s doing?!

“Nami!!!” Luffy cried in distress upon hearing Nami’s scream.

Wrath too also appeared concerned as his mirthful laughter had stopped.

ooo

Nami gritted her teeth against the pain as she stabbed her arm again and again. She would
not let herself be a slave...to herself. She would overcome this. This pain was
nothing...compared to what the world would feel if Wrath really did succeed in his
wrapped plan to take it over. The power of Atlantis...could only be a bad thing as far as
she was concerned. She just had to stop all this somehow.

Suddenly, Nami noticed the barrier of glass in front of her shimmer...it was as if there
was no barrier between her and reality. Nami smiled. This was her chance! She quickly
ran through the barrier and back into reality. As she came through the mirror she was
suddenly hit with the feeling of being lost in a large ocean. Her mind reeled and then it
was over. But the feeling still remained...

Something was still wrong but what? Nami looked down at her hands and gasped. They
were slightly transparent. Nami took a deep breath trying to get a hold of herself and just
as suddenly her hands appeared to be normal again. What could this mean? If she was
real again why would she disappear unless...she wasn’t real at all. Her other self now
possessed her body so that meant Nami was nothing more than a soul fragment.

And a soul cannot survive in the real world without a body forever. It would not be long
before Nami would just fade away. Nami shivered with this realization. She had limited
time to do what she had to do. She had to find her other half try and stop her and get her
body back before it was too late.

ooo

The ground was breaking...the once buried Temple of Mother Nature was just as Wrath
had said rising once again to see the light of day. The ground above broke away as the
temple rose, an unseen force willing this to be.

The obelisk continued to glow with the mysterious power that Nami was unleashing.

In a matter of moments the temple was once again above ground. Through the temple’s
glass domes the sky could be seen over head. But the temple itself was
changing...changing as it became engulfed in a blue light. The temple was becoming
bigger more complex and the area around the obelisk was also changing.

The obelisk was now on a raised pillar of rock that was raising higher and higher into the
air. Pieces of rocks shot out from the sides of the pillar looking like spikes, these two
were glowing with the strange energy. Wrath had managed to stay next to the obelisk and
so he to was being raised above the ground.

Luffy had not been so lucky and had been left behind.

He watched helplessly as Nami was taken farther and farther away from him.

“Yes this is it! The power! The power!” Wrath was crying out as he began to stroke the
surface of the obelisk. “You are doing so well my dear. Continue to awaken the power.
Let it surround this place and you...become one with the power once again as you have
been destined to be!”

“I feel the power...” Nami began to say. “But my own life energy is being sucked away
into this crystal I fear...I fear I will be consumed by the power, my love.”

“You must be strong for both our sakes. You must fulfill your promise to me. Give me
the power to take over the world. Together it will be ours!” Wrath told her soothingly.

“I will try,” Nami agreed as the temple continued to change. Soon the obelisk itself began
to change and grow until it began to resemble something more like a dark sphere. It then
began to rise from the pillar until it was hovering in midair above it. “I can feel it...the
world around me...the rocks...the trees...the sea...I can feel it and...I can control it.”

“Yes! Yes you’ve done it! Now! First we shall test this power. My love, make the world
shake! Make everyone tremble before our power!” Wrath commanded.

“As you wish, my love.” Nami agreed and began to concentrate her power. She
envisioned the continents of the world shaking, the islands of the Grand Line trembling
from an unseen force...and so it was.

“It’s too late!” Vivi cried out to the bewildered Luffy. “It has already begun. The power
has been awaken...the earth is in pain. And soon...its people shall suffer...soon the power
will go out of control and the world will be destroyed!”

“No...it can’t be.” Luffy murmured. “Nami would never do something like this...Nami...”

“Luffy.” Came a weak voice from behind him.

Luffy turned around and was thoroughly shocked to see Nami standing behind him. She
looked pale and weak but more like the normal Nami he had come to know and love.
“Nami?! What are you doing here...aren’t you inside that glowing black Mystery
Sphere?”

Nami looked up at the top of the pillar where the black sphere was hovering, swirling
with silver and blue energy. “I...am here...but I am also there. Oh, Luffy it’s hard to
explain but you have to get me up to that sphere!” She stumbled forward in her weakened
condition. “I...leave it to you Captain.” She echoed the words she had told him once
before.

Luffy smiled back at her. “I don’t really understand what is going on here but leave it to
me!” Luffy quickly hoisted Nami onto his back and she wrapped her arms around his
neck. She leaned her face against his back in breathed in his scent. Would this be the last
time she was ever this close to him?

Luffy quickly made his way over to the pillar and grabbed onto two spikes, he then began
to pull himself up. Up, and up and up. How far had the pillar grown, how far away was
the black sphere anyways...a 100 meters at least. He grunted as he pulled himself and
Nami up using the spikes above him and letting his feet find footings on those spikes that
were below.

It was slow going with the added weight of Nami and the odd random placement of the
spikes but Luffy would never let such things stop him. Nami noticed that Luffy’s breath
was coming in and out in short gasps. He was once again putting himself through hell for
her. She vaguely remembered a similar time when using his bare hands and feet Luffy
had scaled a mountain side to get Nami to the doctor’s in time.

And here he was again helping her to get to her fated destination. She would once again
be lost without him. Her heart swelled with feelings for him. She loved him so much and
yet...there was still so much between them...

She could feel her grasp around Luffy’s neck slipping. She was having one of her fits
again. She could see her own hands coming in and out of visibility. She was
disappearing again. No not yet...please not yet. I have to at least stop her...before I...

“Ahhhhh!!!” Nami cried as she lost her hold upon Luffy and began to fall backwards.

“Nami!” Luffy cried as he saw her falling. “No!” He cried and stretched his arm after her
as she continued to fall through the air. He just had to reach her in time, he willed his arm
to stretch faster, faster, faster. “Nami grab my hand!”

Nami looked up in surprise to see Luffy’s hand shooting towards her. She reached out her
hand and their two hands came together. His hand closed around hers and he then began
to pull her back up.

Suddenly, her hand began to slip through his. She was disappearing again. And this time
Luffy saw what was happening. “Nami your hands?!” He cried as he saw Nami’s hands
were disappearing and reappearing.

“Luffy..I should have told you but, that other me she’s in possession of my body and if I
don’t get it back...I will disappear from this world. Right now I’m just a soul fragment
without a body.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Luffy asked in a strained voice. “I’m a bit confused but...it
means if we don’t get up there in time I could lose you right?”

Nami didn’t answer but Luffy knew the truth by the look in her eyes. “Nami...come back
to me Nami.”

“But I...” Nami was hesitating. She could feel herself disappearing from this world.
Should she just let herself fade away? Why should she stay? “But I don’t want to be in
the way.”

“You’ve never been in the way. Nami I need you...by my side. Come on Nami! Hang in
there!” Luffy said as he continued to pull her up.

His words gave her strength in will and she tightened her hold upon Luffy’s hand. If he
needed her she would go to him. Her hand solidified and Luffy pulled her up until she
was at his side.

“Luffy I’m here for you if you need but I...don’t want to be in the way of you and Vivi-”
Nami was cut off as Luffy fiercely pressed his lips up against hers for a mind blowing
kiss. When he pulled away they were both out of breath.

“I don’t want to lose you Nami, ever. Because I...love you.” Luffy told her looking
deeply into her eyes.

Tears welled up in Nami’s eyes. It was all too good to be true. It couldn’t be real. “You
don’t really mean that...how could you love me when you know of my past...after you
found out you avoided me...you will never truly love me...because I’m-”

“Perfect. Just the way you are. You may be a bit money hungry, and selfish, and rely on
others to protect you, or even a total flirt but these are the things I love you about. The
good and the bad. It makes you the woman I have fallen in love with.” Luffy interrupted
her. “Nami I didn’t ignore you because I rejected you because of your past I distanced
myself from you because I was afraid of hurting you. I’ve been having these strange
visions lately Nami I don’t really get it but I could never let myself hurt you. I would
rather die first.”

Nami’s eyes widened. “Luffy...about that, I think I should tell you-”

“Nami, it can wait. Right now I promise to get you to the top of this pillar as fast as
humanly possible.” Luffy smirked.

“Right.” Nami smiled, nodded her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Let’s go
Captain!”

Luffy hoisted her onto his back again and they continued their way to the top of the pillar
this time at a much faster pace than before. Nami smiled to herself remembering the
words she had just heard Luffy say to her, those three magical words she thought she’d
never hear him say, ever. Somehow it had made it all, everything they had gone through,
worth it in the end.

“We’re almost there, Nami.” Luffy grunted as he placed a hand on the edge of the ledge
of the top of the pillar. He then began to drag himself and Nami up and onto the surface.
Nami and Luffy stood now beneath the sphere which was hovering above them.

And there waiting for them was Wrath...

“Well, well, well, I see you both have made it this far but it’s too late to stop it now. The
power of Atlantis has already been awakened and is under my control. Soon the world
will be in the palms of my hands! And I will not only be the Pirate King...but the World
King!”

“The power of Atlantis is under your control?” Nami questioned. “I think not. It’s under
my control, or her control, or well, you get the picture. The real one in control here is not
you.”

Nami looked up at the black sphere, which was swirling with colors of silver and blue
looking like a chaotic sea that was trapped inside a crystal ball. “Inside of that chaotic sea
is a part of me I have always rejected. I have always feared it would come back to haunt
my present, and ruin my chance for a future. But I’ve been wrong all this time. I never
had to fear that because instead I should have trusted in those that I cared about and that
cared for me. I know now what I must do. Thanks to you Luffy.” Nami smiled back at
Luffy before coming to stand under the black sphere.

“Nami what are you going to do?” Luffy questioned. “I should go with you. I could
protect you.”

“Luffy this is something I have to do on my own.” Nami said as she began to be lifted off
the floor drawn by the unseen power of the sphere. “You’ve done enough already.”

“Not so fast little missy.” Wrath growled as he lunged forward and grabbed Nami’s foot
as it was almost out of reach and stopping her ascent. “You’re not going anywhere and
there is not way I’m letting you come between me and the power of Atlantis. The power
of Atlantis is mine to control! To command!”

“Let her go!” Came Luffy’s voice. And for the first time Wrath acknowledged Luffy’s
presence.

“Did I just hear something?” Wrath mocked. “Or was it the wind. It was so faint I could
barely hear it.”

“I said LET HER GO!” Luffy growled as he lunged at Wrath. Luffy was about to collide
with Wrath when suddenly he passed right through him. Luffy was sent flying to the
floor where he skidded, his face getting buried in the dirt. “What the hell?” Luffy
exclaimed as he coughed on the dust.

Wrath merely laughed. “Foolish boy, even now you still do not understand you are
powerless against me.”

Luffy got up and brushed the dirt form his clothes. “I don’t get it...are you a ghost?”

“In a sense yes, you could call me the Ghost of Memories Past. Buwhahahaha! You can
never defeat me boy. You might as well give it up.”

Luffy pushed himself to his feet and dusted himself off. He then smirked at Wrath, who
looked confused for a moment. “You know, sorry to tell you this but I’m really bad about
giving up.” With that said Luffy attacked Wrath again and again. Each time Luffy swung
a punch that punch just flew through Wrath but Luffy would not give up.

Suddenly, the black sphere above them began to spin. It began to spin faster and faster
and then suddenly blue-tinged lightning began to fly out of the sphere hitting the temple
walls and making them crumble. Energy was flying out of the sphere in a chaotic fashion
as it began to spin out of control.

“What is happening?” Wrath asked bewildered as he watched the sphere. “Nami what are
you doing? Stop it! The power is escaping! You are not controlling it.”

“I-I can’t control it! It’s too powerful! It’s going out of control!” Came the voice from
within the sphere. “There’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“WHAT?! YOU CAN’T LET THIS HAPPEN! CONTROL IT DAMN YOU!
CONTROL IT!!! MY POWER MY MAGNIFICENT POWER!!!!” Wrath bellowed as he
watched the random lightning bolts shooting out from the chaotic sphere.

The ground beneath them began to tremble.

“NAMI I DID NOT ORDER AN EARTH QUAKE! WHAT THE HELL IS
HAPPENING?!”

“The sphere...the sphere is set on a destructive path...I think...the entire world will
become engulfed in earth quakes, floods, and other natural disasters it is only a matter of
time before the world becomes engulfed in chaos and is destroyed...I am sorry my love I
have failed you.”

“Noooo!!!” Wrath sunk to his knees in defeat releasing Nami in the process. She was
about to continue her way towards the sphere when Luffy grabbed her foot this time
stopping her.

“Nami...you can’t go now! It’s too dangerous.”

“You must let me go Luffy...it’s not only about me now it’s about the entire world. I
cannot allow this to happen. Somehow I have to find a way to stop this.” Nami looked
down at Luffy.

“Alright Nami, I trust you.” Luffy said as he released her and allowed her to float back to
the sphere and become engulfed by it until he could no longer see her. Then Luffy heard
laughter from behind him. He turned around to see that Wrath was laughing
uncontrollably. “What the hell are you laughing at? We’re all fighting for our lives here!”

“Fighting you say? So you think the girl may be able to stop the foretold destruction of
the world? I think not. And the best part of this all is that this is all your fault.”

“What do you mean by that, you bastard.”

“You still haven’t figured it out yet have you. Luffy, Luffy, Luffy, you are the one who
did those nasty, unspeakable things to Nami...you are the one who tortured Shanks...you
are the one who conquered the Grand Line in your own way and became King of the
Pirates.”

Luffy’s eyes widened in horror. “Just what are you saying. I don’t understand you I-”
Luffy’s mind was suddenly flooded with visions but this time he recognized them for
what they were - memories...of him and Nami...of him and Ace, who was getting a new
tattoo, one of a drama mask...of him torturing Shanks...of countless other things he had
done that he had never been aware of. Unspeakable things, dirty things, vile things. Was
it all really true...could it really be true...he had done these things...but then that would
mean that Wrath...

“You finally understand don’t you.”

Suddenly, Luffy found himself looking out from the eye holes of a mask. He quickly
removed the mask and peered down at it in his hands in disbelief. The strange drama
mask with the strange mark under the left eye resembling a scar...very much like the scar
Luffy bore under his left eye.

It all made sense now...

He was Wrath.

But why? And how?

You don’t remember do you? The day I was born. That’s because for most of your life
you have willed yourself to forget that fateful day...allow me to refresh your memory.

Luffy’s head felt like it would split in two as his mind was suddenly pummeled with
images, images long forgotten now brought to the surface.

There he was with Shanks...the pirate he so admired...how he wanted to be like him -
strong, powerful, respected...and yes even feared. He wanted that. To be a pirate. But
what was a pirate? A pillager? A robber? A thief?...perhaps a murderer?

His naive mind could barely grasp the true concept of what a pirate really was. His mind
was filled with visions of treasure, adventures, fanciful things that had little to the with
the harshness of reality.

But for a boy things like dreams were very, very important and so Luffy dreamed of
becoming the most feared pirate - the Pirate King.

The years went by and it was at the young age of twelve that Luffy ran away from home
as a stowaway on a pirate ship. They hadn’t noticed that he was aboard until it was too
late to take him back. So they accepted him as part of their crew on one condition, one
very important condition.

“If you want to stay with us boy, you have to be a real pirate? You got that?” The pirate
captain told him wagging a finger at him.

“A real pirate?” Luffy questioned wide-eyed in awe.

“Yea no crying for mommy when the going gets tough. You have to do what we do or else
we’re throwing you overboard and since you can’t swim well you get the picture.” The
man smiled, revealing gaps in his teeth.

“I want to be a real pirate.” Luffy said without a shred of doubt in his voice.

The pirates all laughed at his naivete and thought of Luffy as nothing more than
amusement...

And then the day came, the day when a young boy’s dreams were shattered.

“Captain! There’s a ship off the starboard bow! It’s a big one she is. It must be a
merchant ship! Loaded with goodies no doubt...and a many a fine lass I’m sure!”

Many of the pirates laughed at that.

“Arrr, sounds good to me. We shall take that fine ship!” The Captain ordered. “Prepare
the cannons to fire. Come about!”

The pirate ship was maneuvered until it was coming right along side the merchant ship at
top speed. There was no escape for the heavily laden ship, that was too slow. When they
were right along side it the Captain ordered a barrage of cannon fire.

“Cannons! Fire!” The Captain shouted.

The merchant ship’s sides were hit precisely and the ship came to a standstill.

“Prepare to board, you scallywags! Have the boarding hooks at the ready!” The Captain
commanded. In a matter of moments the pirates were all swinging over the sides of the
ship and onto the merchant ship. Up until this point Luffy had been watching with a face
full of awe that was until he heard the screaming after the merchant ship had been fired
upon.

He had been watching as the fires had broken out on the other ship’s decks and how
people were running around in a panic. Some already jumping ship. People...the people
were suffering because of them.

But this was only the beginning. As soon as the pirates landed they began to kill anyone
who so much as lifted a finger to resist them. Luffy wanted to shut his eyes against what
he was seeing but found that he was so terrified that he couldn’t. He had no choice but to
continue watching...

The pirates finished murdering most of the crew, and began to take the women captive.
Their screams filled Luffy’s ears and he was reminded of his mother...any of these women
could have children just like him and now they now they...who knew what fate awaited
them.

If this wasn’t bad enough it seemed that the pirates had left one man alive for one very
special purpose.

“Boy the time has come for you to prove that you are one of us. In this world it is kill or
be killed I want you to remember that. Now here take this.” The Pirate Captain placed a
small dirk in Luffy’s hands.

He then went over to the restrained man and released his bonds. “I want you to kill this
man.” The Pirate ordered.

“Wha?” Luffy squeaked out in disbelief. “You don’t mean...”

“This is a battle of life and death whoever survives well survives...I’m sure at least you
understand.” The Pirate Captain addressed the unarmed man. He was an average
looking sort of man, was probably a navigator by his scholarly appearance definitely not
the fighter type, he had probably surrendered right away. But at those words the man’s
eyes took a different sort of glint to them as they turned to Luffy.

Luffy took a step back. He couldn’t really be expected to kill the man in front of him
could he? Before he could question again the captured man lunged towards Luffy, or
rather for Luffy’s dirk. Soon Luffy was sent crashing into the floor of the deck the man on
top of him fighting for the knife.

They struggled one against the other until the knife was coming very close to Luffy’s
neck. Luffy used all his strength to move the knife away from his neck and soon it was
under his eye. The knife was digging into his skin there now until he bled. The pain...it
hurt. How it hurt. That was when Luffy realized that this man was trying to kill him.

Summoning the last of his strength Luffy used an odd tactic as he decided to head butt the
man on top of him. The man was stunned and just long enough to give Luffy plenty of
time to run his small dirk through the man’s unprotected neck...

Blood sprayed onto Luffy, and onto his now blood stained hands.

A twelve year old boy had killed a man.

Is this what he had wanted? To become a pirate? What of his dream?

It all seemed to be crashing around him. Luffy couldn’t handle it, couldn’t face what he
had done, couldn’t carry the burden of the guilt of the crime he had committed. He didn’t
want to be himself at that moment. He wished he were free, were someone else.

And that is when Wrath was born.

The only way to keep Luffy’s conscious guilt free would be for Luffy to truly be a
separate entity than from the one who had just murdered a man.

So Luffy’s split personality was formed.

Wrath would be the one to shoulder the guilt of the murder. It was he who was guilty of
the crime. And it was he who would be guilty of any crimes Luffy committed in the future.

Luffy would be free from all this. In this way Luffy could remain pure, innocent, a
boy...up until the age of seventeen still an innocent boy.

The persona Luffy had created had resulted in his personality splitting as it had. He
wasn’t really naive of the world he was just unaware of what he already knew about it.
He was sheltered, protected from himself, but at the same time left in the dark about the
truth...the harsh truths of the reality of the world, love, hate, good, evil. Instead of
understanding the gray area all had become black and white.

However, now Luffy knew.

Luffy’s eyes opened and he realized he had been lying unconscious for several minutes.
The black sphere overhead was still spinning rapidly and out of control.

The guilt of all the crimes he had committed in his life washed over Luffy. He was no
longer the same Luffy. He knew things now. He was different. Luffy could no longer
separate himself from those harsh realities it was time for him to face the music.

“What have I done? What am I? I...deserve to die.” Luffy moaned before he let out a
bellowing yell that echoed throughout the chamber.

ooo

As Nami was drawn into the sphere she knew what she would have to do but at the same
time was filled with fear. Would she succeed? Could she stop the destruction of the end
of the world? Would she unite her soul to her body in time to save herself as well? Would
she ever see Luffy again?....

Once Nami had passed through the black sphere her surroundings changed suddenly and
it was like she was in outer space. The space around her was much larger than the sphere
appeared to be on the outside, this space was unlimited, there were no boundaries, or
beginnings or ends. Here in this dark endless space filled with silver stars and purple mist
was where she would have to confront her other self.

She floated weightless through the space once again guided, her soul’s yearning to be
whole once again drawing her forward. There just up ahead she saw her was - her other
self. A swirling aura of silver and blue was spinning around her rapidly, out of control.
Her other self seemed to be unconscious or else fighting stay conscious as the immense
power of Atlantis seemed to be overwhelming her at last.

Nami felt odd saying this but she called out to her other self, “Nami!!”

This got her other self’s attention and her eyes sprung open. “You.” She started coldly. “I
should have disposed of you earlier. But not matter now that you are out of the mirror
your soul cannot survive without a body for very much longer. You are already dead.
Your coming here was pointless.”

Nami glared back at her dark-garbed self, “As long as I have the will to keep on living
my soul will remain in this world...and I have found my reason to keep on living. You
cannot beat me. I am you...we cannot beat each other...I understand that now. And it’s all
thanks to him. The man I, no, we love. Deep down you feel it too, the longing to be by
his side. That’s what we both want. I don’t intend to fight you.”

“If you don’t intend to fight me then why have you come? Do you intend to stop the
power of Atlantis that I have already unleashed? Even I can no longer control it, and I
have the blood of Atlantis flowing within my veins. What could you a mere soul
fragment hope to accomplish by coming here?” The red-painted lips frowned.

“I don’t plan to do anything, alone anyways. Together we should have enough power to
stop the power of Atlantis and then together we will go back to him.” Nami said firmly.

“Together you say?” Nami’s other half started to laugh, a cold merciless laugh. “Don’t
make me laugh. You think I’ll fall for your trap? You just want your body back and I
don’t intend to give it back to you. I have been trapped in the darkness too long for that.
And even though the end draws near I will live out the last moments of my life in
freedom. I am free. And as for him...he would not accept me anyways. You know that as
well as I do.”

“You’re wrong!” Nami blurt out startling her other half. “He does accept us. He told me
himself, that he loves me for me flaws and all including the part of me which is you. He
loves us.”

“Lies! Lies! Lies! Lies!” The other Nami was shaking her head back and forth in denial.
“It can’t be true...not me...not me.”

Nami was much closer to her otherself now. “But it is true...he loves us both. Together
we can be with him.”

“You’re lying...” Nami’s other self said in a much weaker voice.

Nami was nearly next to her other self now and she began to reach out her arms to her.

Her other self noticed this however. “No! Stay away!”

But Nami had already begun to wrap her arms around her other self. She brought her
other self to lay her head upon her breast. “Shhhh it’s over now. No more hiding. I won’t
reject you any more. You are a part of me just as I am a part of you. We are one. And
that’s ok because...he said so.”

“Can it really be true?” Nami’s other self breathed.

As the two sides of Nami embraced they were engulfed in a blinding light a light that
overshadowed that of the out of control power of Atlantis. Dark and Light united to
become one once more. And then as the light faded away all that was left was one Nami,
one whole Nami.

And within her hands was a shimmering ball of light. “You are no longer a part of us,
Evil Spirit. Begone to the underworld where you belong.” The ball of light, which had
been the evil spirit inhabiting the mirror began to break up into several small golden
lights before dispersing into nothingness.

Now Nami was surrounded by the nothingness that was around her in this space. But
within this nothingness there was also an ancient power there. The power that started the
creation of the universe long ago, the power of mother earth, or mother nature, the power
of creation as well as destruction. Nami could feel it now as it throbbed within every
fiber of her being. She could feel the powers will to be unleashed not necessarily in
destruction but just to be free.

When her Dark self had unleashed the power to be used to create an earthquake the
power had been led down that dark path and had stayed down that path of destruction.
Now all that Nami had to do was guide that power back to a path of creation. Easier said
than done however. Nami struggled again the power as it tried to continue its path of
destruction. But Nami was the power’s master and continued to use the strength of her
will to control the power, harness it, reign it in.

Soon the swirling of silver and blue that surrounded her began to slow...the power was
slowly coming under her control again. From this universal space Nami could feel the
world, it’s song and now she was its conductor. She would write a new song for the earth.
The seas would no longer flood, the land would no longer tremble, the skies would no
longer be filled with thunder. Nami would set things right once more.

ooo

The Straw Hat pirates had made it to the great chamber of the Temple of Mother Nature
and were surprised to see the state of things once they did. Many parts of the temple were
being damaged as blue lightning bolts seemed to be coming from nowhere and
everywhere hitting random parts of the ceilings and walls. When the pirates looked up
however they saw the cause of it all - a giant black sphere which was filled with a chaotic
sea of silver and blue energies.

The sphere was spinning rapidly and though they couldn’t see inside the sphere very well
for a mere second they thought they had seen the shadow or form of a woman inside.

They also took in the sight of the pillar with the random spikes gutting out from it and
there at the very top was Luffy....

Ace gasped when he realized what he was seeing.

It was a strange sight to see but it seemed like Luffy was being punched by an unseen
force. Luffy was also attacking thin air but whatever punches he threw simply seemed to
come right back to him. In other words Luffy was fighting himself.

“He knows...” Ace murmured as he watched his brother’s struggle. “Dammit he knows.
LUFFY!!!”

Shanks looked up worriedly at Luffy and then looked around for the orange-haired
navigator. “Where’s Nami?”

“She is inside the chaos...” Came a voice.

Everyone turned to see Vivi still sitting huddled on the floor with her arms wrapped
around her. “She’s alone within the chaos...she is struggling to control the power...but it
still won’t be enough...”

“Vivi what are you saying? What do you mean it won’t be enough?” Zoro questioned
kneeling at her side and looking at her imploringly.

“The City of Atlantis will be buried within the sea once again.” Vivi declared.

Silence followed her words.

“If-if this place is really going to be flooded again shouldn’t we get the hell out of
here?!” Ussop cried out.

“And abandon Luffy and Nami?!” Zoro sounded outraged.

“He’s right.” Shanks said suddenly. “It’s too dangerous to remain here much longer.
Even if Nami manages to stop the power of Atlantis, this city will be lost once more.
Everyone needs to get out of here and fast. I...will go get Luffy and Nami.”

“Im going with you.” Ace spoke up.

“No the others will need your strength.” Shanks objected. “Now go all of you. Believe in
them, your Captain and your Navigator.”

“Right!!!!” The Straw Hat pirates all agreed.

The Straw Hats started to make their way out of the collapsing temple as Shanks made
his way towards the stone pillar. He then grabbed on the spikes and began to pull himself
upwards.

Finally after several moments he had made it to the top. Luffy was still fighting himself
and flying backwards and then Luffy was counterattacking the air again.

“Luffy!” Shanks cried as he lunged forward and punched Luffy across the face. “Get a
hold of yourself! Luffy you need to stop beating yourself up about it. What’s in the past
is in the past. So you thought that being a pirate was all fun and games and found out it
wasn’t big deal. Not everything is black and white Luffy, there’s a lot of gray. But what
you need to realize is good can’t exist without the bad. How would you appreciate things
otherwise such the good deeds of others if there weren’t also bad deeds being committed
in the world.”

Luffy held a hand to his stinging cheek with a stunned expression on his face. He then
looked over to Shanks as if noticing him for the first time. “Shanks?...” Luffy questioned
in a small voice.

“That’s right kiddo it’s me. Now instead of fighting yourself isn’t their something more
important that you should be doing?” Shanks was saying.

“Something important...” Luffy struggled to think.

“Like saving the woman you love.” Shanks sighed.

“The woman I...Nami!?” Luffy said suddenly as he looked up at the sphere of chaos that
had begun to slow it’s spinning. “Nami, she’s done it! The power is stopping.”

“But it won’t be enough to stop the flood that will cover Atlantis once more. Also...she
has no strength left to leave the chaos space.” Shanks informed him.

“How do you know all this,” Luffy questioned suspiciously.

“That isn’t important. Right now we need to figure out how to get up to that ball of chaos
and get Nami out of there.” Shanks told him.

“Right,” Luffy nodded. “Maybe I can just...” Luffy began to stretch his arms up to the
ball of chaos until his hands hit the barrier. “Damn it...I can’t get through unless...” Luffy
closed his eyes and concentrated. Damn it you bastard lend me your strength. I know you
can hear me. You know we both need her. Show me the true power of the devil’s fruit!

Suddenly Luffy’s hands began to glow with a black aura of chaotic energy and just as
suddenly his hands began to pass through the chaos as if the barrier never existed. Now
he only had to find her...

His hands searched until he grabbed hold of something. Quickly, swinging his arms back
he brought out what he had found.

“Luffy?” Nami asked in surprise as she was drawn out of the chaos and brought through
the air towards Luffy.

“Yea...it’s me.” Luffy said uncertainly as he brought Nami into his arms.

“Great now we have to get the hell out of here.” Shanks was saying.

“You two go on ahead there’s something...I need to do.” Luffy informed them handing
Nami over to Shanks.

“But what about you...what are you planning to do?” Nami asked, worry etched in her
features.

“Don’t worry about me Nami...just get yourself out. Shanks I’m counting on you.” Luffy
nodded his head.

“Right, you can count on me Luffy, don’t be long, meet up with us as soon as you can.”
Shanks smiled.

Luffy didn’t answer but turned his back to them.

Shanks lifted Nami onto his back and they began to make their way down the stone
pillar. Nami turned her head to look at Luffy one last time and noticed that his fists were
shaking, his nails burying themselves into his skin.

What are you planning on doing? A voice questioned Luffy curiously.

I’m going to defeat you. Luffy responded calmly.

You can’t defeat me, you already know how futile it is to try. You are a part of me Luffy.
We are one and the same you can’t win against me.

Oh, yes I can. I don’t plan on meeting up with them...

You can’t be saying!!! You plan to drown us both here!

That’s right.

You sick bastard!

Heh, you could be right. But at least everything will be over. I will atone for my sins with
my death. I deserve to die...and you along with me. This ends now. You know as well as I
do that it would be impossible for us, who have eaten of the devil’s fruit, to survive a
flood.

Nami and Shanks were already making their way out of the tunnel when Nami suddenly
got off of Shanks’ back.

“Nami what’s wrong?” Shanks asked worriedly.

“I’m sorry Shanks but you’ll just have to go on ahead without me.” Nami said as she
turned and ran off in the opposite direction.

“Nami no!” Shanks cried as he turned to run back to her. But just as he was nearing her a
large chunk of the ceiling came down blocking his way to her. “Dammit Nami don’t you
know I care about you too!” Shanks yelled to the wall.

“I know that Shanks and I thank you for that. You were my savior but now I have to do
some saving of my own.” Nami called behind her before breaking off into a run.

Nami ran until she was once again inside the temple’s chamber. There, she could see
Luffy still at the top of the pillar. She began to run towards the pillar before she tripped
over her own feet and landed face first on the ground. She didn’t have much strength left
but she knew she just had to get to him. She pushed herself up off the ground and
continued to make her way over to the pillar. Reaching her hand out and taking hold of a
spike she began the agonizing process of making it to the top.

Nami found her foot slipping but managed to regain her balance just in time. Her hands
were becoming rubbed raw by the harsh stone spikes but Nami kept on going...

“Luffy!” Nami called just as she reached the top and she struggled to place her hands
over the top to pull herself up but her strength was leaving her.

“Nami?!” Luffy exclaimed turning around and seeing her struggle. Just as she was about
to let go and fall off the pillar Luffy grabbed both of her hands in his and pulled her up.

“Damn it Nami! What are you doing here?” Luffy frowned.

“I could be asking you the same thing. You weren’t planning on coming back were you.”
Nami looked back at him imploringly.

Luffy turned his back to her. “Nami...there’s something you should know about me...”
Before Luffy could continue he felt Nami wrapping her arms around him from behind.

“Shhhh it’s not important now anyways.” Nami murmured. “All that matters is that I’m
here with you now Luffy. If I lost you, there’d be no point in living anyways. So I’m here
with you Luffy...until the end.”

“Nami I...” Luffy was speechless with what he was hearing. Could it be possible that
Nami would accept him even with all the atrocities he had committed, some even to her.

Just at the moment the walls of the temple began to crash in and water began to flood
inside the temple.

“The Tsunami...” Nami murmured. “It was the only natural disaster I was unable to
stop...I didn’t have enough power and now because of that-”

“Shhh it’s not your fault.” Luffy said turning around to face her and placing a finger to
her lips. “If it’s anyone’s fault it’s mine. I...deserve to die. Nami...when the water comes
and floods this place you still have a chance of surviving since you’ll just turn into a
mermaid. Once that happens I want you to leave me behind and save yourself.”

Nami suddenly bonked him on the head. “Haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve been
saying I won’t leave you. Together...until the end Luffy.” She said as she stood on her tip
toes and placed a soft kiss on Luffy’s lips.

The water level began to rise and rise until the temple was completely flooded only on
the top of the pillar was the only place left that wasn’t under water but soon it would be
as well.

Luffy wrapped his arms around Nami and awaited the inevitable. Soon the water would
cover him and he would become a deadweight. There would be no fighting it, he would
be unable to breath and he would die. But at least he would die in the arms of the woman
he loved.

The water was sloshing around their ankles now and Luffy’s tightened his embrace upon
Nami. Soon now it would all be over and Wrath would die along with him just as it
should be. He would make up for everything he had done in this way.

Soon the water began more powerful and in one big wave both Nami and Luffy were
swallowed beneath the waves.

Nami could feel her body transforming into its mermaid form. The breath she had been
holding was finally released and she gulped in oxygen that she was able to get from the
water. She then turned to Luffy...

Luffy felt the water around him and felt strange. He was holding his breath and soon very
soon he wouldn’t be able to hold it any longer but as he tightened his hold upon Nami he
was surprised that he found he could even do so. He shouldn’t be able to move at all
under the water after all. Luffy looked back at Nami preparing it to be the last glimpse he
ever had over her as he released his breath...

Nami watched anxiously as Luffy finally let go of the breath he had been trying to
hold...soon his lungs would fill with water and he would drown and there would be
nothing she would be able to do about...

Luffy let go of his breath and then opened his mouth expecting his gulping for air to
cause his mouth and lungs to be filled with water. What happened instead was the exact
opposite. He breathed...he inexplicably was able to breath. He looked back at Nami in
shock and she looked back at him with a similar expression on her face.

The bubbles rose between them as they breathed and they almost felt like laughing. How
was this happening? Why? Nami could only thank the gods that for some reason Luffy
was still alive and with her.

You see Luffy...there’s still hope so don’t give up please.

I don’t know why but even though I deserve to die I feel myself wanting to live to be with
you Nami.

My Bellemere once told me that as long as you keep on living good things will happen to
you. Luffy...together I just know that good things will happen to us so don’t give up yet,
please.

Alright Nami, I won’t give up but only because I love you.

How did you figure out what love was anyways?

How can you ask that when it was you who revealed to me the greatest mystery of them
all, love. You made my heart feel things I never thought possible, things a boy wouldn’t
feel, but a man. I’m different than the man you fell in love with though Nami...I’m...

Nami pressed her lips up against Luffy’s again and all thoughts were expelled from his
mind. You dimwit, I already told you that’s not important. Just like you love me for me, I
love you for you, every part of you good and the bad because...in the end that’s what it
means to be human.

I guess you’re right Nami...I guess you’re right.

ooo

The Straw Hat pirates were all aboard the Going Merry drifting upon a now calm sea.
Atlantis had already been swallowed up by the sea once more but the arc of the Going
Merry had saved their lives.

“Whhhaaaaa.” Ussop and Chopper moaned. “What about Luffy and Nami.”

Sanji tightening the embrace he had on Talika at those words.

Shanks’ and Ace’s expressions were serious.

And Tashigi and Zoro gave each other knowing looks - there was no way the two of them
could have survived.

“Hey guys how about giving us a hand!” Came an unexpected voice.

“Nami-swaaan?!” Sanji cried out earning a slap from Talika. He coughed before saying
in a much more serious tone. “Nami-san?”

“Guys get off your lazy butts that’s an order!” Came another voice. It could only be...

“Luffy!!!”

Everyone was soon standing at the stern looking behind them to see both Nami and Luffy
floating in the water.

“Luffy, how the hell are you floating like that?” Zoro questioned before smirking.

“Like I would be able to figure out something that complicated.” Luffy smiled. “Now
would you get us out of here! Ladies first.” Luffy said as his crew lowered a rope behind
the Going Merry.

“How very gallant of you, Captain.” Nami winked before taking the rope and beginning
to pull herself up.

“bluuurrtaaaahhhh.”

“Huh?” Nami questioned looking back to see that Luffy was sinking back into the water.

“Luffy!” She dove back into the water and soon had brought him to the surface once
more. “It seems you can only swim and breath in the water when you’re around me.”

“It’s a Mystery Miracle.” Luffy nodded sagely.

“Right, well it looks like you’ll have to haul us both up.”

“I don’t like taking orders from you but today I’ll make an exception.” Zoro said as he
lowered another rope and Luffy and Nami prepared to be lifted out of the water at the
same time.

Soon they were back on deck with the rest of the crew.

“Wheeewwww! Who’s up for another adventure!” Luffy cried out suddenly.

“Baka!” Nami said bonking him on the head. “We all nearly died back there and yet you
want to go on another adventure.”

“But Nami,” Luffy pouted, “Any time you think we’re going to die you kiss me so I can’t
help myself.”

Nami blushed and everyone laughed. “Who would have thought Luffy would turn out to
be a pervert.” Ace joked.

“I wonder where he gets it from,” Shanks poked Ace in the ribs knowingly.

Ace tried to look innocent, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Hey look over there!” Came Chopper’s voice from the crow’s nest.

Luffy bounded over to his favorite spot on the ram’s head. “Island! Island! Isalnd!”

“Some things never change.” Nami smiled.

ooo

The End.

Thanks again to my loyal fans I hope you all enjoyed my fic!!!!
- 18
- 19
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Nami\'s Dark Little Secret